Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is the place to be if you like to write and share Japanese poetry forms like haiku, choka and tanka. It’s a warmhearted family of haiku poets created by Chèvrefeuille, a Dutch haiku poet. Japanese poetry is the poetry of nature and it gives an impression of a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water. ++ ALL WORKS PUBLISHED ARE COPYRIGHTED AND THE RIGHTS BELONG TO THE AUTHORS ++ !!! Anonymous comments will be seen as SPAM !!!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

We are still following Basho into the deep north. Until now it was a wonderful journey and it will become even more beautiful as you will see.

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Leaving
Mount Haguro on the following day, I came to the castle town called
Tsuru-ga-oka, where I was received warmly by Nagayama Shigeyuki, a warrior, and
composed a book of linked verse with him and Zushi Sakichi who had accompanied
me all the way from Mount Haguro. Bidding them farewell, I again descended the
River Mogami in a boat and arrived at the port of Sakata, where I was
entertained by the physician named En'an Fugyoku.

I had seen
since my departure innumerable examples of natural beauty which land and water,
mountains and rivers, had produced in one accord, and yet in no way could I
suppress the great urge I had in my mind to see the miraculous beauty of
Kisagata, a lagoon situated to the northeast of Sakata. I followed a narrow
trail for about ten miles, climbing steep hills, descending to rocky shores, or
pushing through sandy beaches, but just about the time the dim sun was nearing
the horizon, a strong wind arose from the sea, blowing up fine grains of sand,
and rain, too, began to spread a grey film of cloud across the sky, so that
even Mount Chokai was made invisible. I walked in this state of semi-blindness,
picturing all sorts of views to myself, till at last I put up at a fisherman's
hut, convinced that if there was so much beauty in the dark rain, much more was
promised by fair weather.

A clear sky
and brilliant sun greeted my eyes on the following morning, and I sailed across
the lagoon in an open boat. I first stopped at a tiny island named after the
Priest Noin to have a look at his retreat where he had stayed for three years,
and then landed on the opposite shore where there was the aged cherry tree
which Saigyo honored by writing 'sailing over the waves of blossoms. There was
also a mausoleum of the Empress Jingu and the temple named Kanmanjuji. I was a
bit surprised to hear of her visit here and left in doubt as to its historical
truth, but I sat in a spacious room of the temple to command the entire view of
the lagoon. When he hanging screens were rolled up, an extraordinary view
unfolded itself before my eyes - Mount Chokai supporting the sky like a pillar
in the south with its shadowy reflection in the water, the barrier-gate of
Muyamuya just visible in the west, an endless causeway leading as far as Akita
in the east, and finally in the north, Shiogoshi, the mouth of the lagoon with
waves of the outer ocean breaking against it. Although little more than a mile
in width, this lagoon is not the least inferior to Matsushima in charm and
grace. There is, however, a remarkable difference between the two. Matsushima
is a cheerful, laughing beauty, while the charm of Kisagata is in the beauty of
its weeping countenance. It is not only lonely but also penitent, as it were,
for some unknown evil. Indeed, it has a striking resemblance to the expression
of a troubled mind.

I love to
tell you a little bit more about this “Kisagata” haiku-set. In this haiku the
reference is to Seishi, Xi Shi, a Chinese beauty of the 5th century
B.C., who was given as concubine to King Fu Cha. According to legend, the king
loved her so much he neglected his duties and lost his kingdom. The play of
words comes with nebu (to sleep),
which sounds as nemu (silk, mimosa,
or parasol tree; Albizzia julibrissin, which has leaves that fold up, as if asleep,
at night or when touched)

silk tree
blossoms
in a soothing summer rain
trembling in silence
so fragile,
in a summer breeze

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IMPROMPTU VERSE

Sometimes a haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form comes in mind just in one eye-blink. Those poems I call Impromptu-verses. Here I will publish these Impromptu-verses. Today's Impromptu verse: (10)

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Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Carpe Diem is the place to be if you like to write and share haiku (or another Japanese poetry form like e.g. tanka). It's a family of haiku loving poets.Japanese poetry is known as the impression of a short moment, say a heartbeat or an eye-blink, in which nature plays an important role.It's free to participate in Carpe Diem. By participating in Carpe Diem, you agree with the use of your work in the exclusive e-book series of Carpe Diem.Of course your work will be credited as Carpe Diem always does. However all the texts and works at Carpe Diem are copyrighted and the rights belong to the authors.

March 20th 2016

Chèvrefeuille, your host

PS. Of course it is possible that you don't want to have your work published in our exclusive series of CDHK e-books. Please let me know that by sending an e-mail to our e-mail address carpediemhaikukai@gmail.com